Inhaler Don’t remember if you call them a pop band.
The Dublin-Born Quartet-which consists of singer and guitarist Eli Hewson, guitarist Josh Jenkinson, bassist Robert Keating and drummer Ryan McMahon-got his roots in the alt-rock scene, and embraced that sound with the debut album “IT WON’T WOND WONE WOND WON So “and 2023’s” Cuts & Bruises. “But for their third in full length” open wide “, out today via Geffen Records, the band wanted to go a slightly different direction.
“Just because something has guitars over it, I don’t think it excludes it from being pop,” says Hewson Amount Over zoom, rings from Dublin along with Keating. Although he acknowledges “We do not write as” espresso “by Sabrina Carpenter”, says Hewson “we have never really felt like an indie band.”
In fact, “open wide” may be the band’s most appealing disc yet, with a number of influences on display that extends from the 70’s glam-rock to the beginning of the 21st century alternatives and everything in between. At the essence of the audio switch is Kid Harpoon (real name Tom Hull), the hitmaker behind much of Harry Style’s discography, whose bright, glittering production style is immediately recognizable.
Inhaler, which had previously opened for styles in Ireland, loved Harpoon’s work at “Harry’s House.” But as Keating points out, he had also worked with Kings of Leon on their ninth album “Can We please have fun” – “so we knew he could probably take a band,” says the bassist.
Below Hewson and Keating talk more about the origin of “Open Breda”, learn to go with the gut and why Hewson is a member of Irish Rock Royalty – his dad is none other than U2Bono – has made the band work harder.
You wrote “Open Brett” at home in Dublin after a long tournament. How did that affect the process?
Hewson: I think it was probably the nicest experience of writing that we have had since we were teenagers just because we were not on tour, we didn’t have to be anywhere and there were no expectations. It was really soothing, actually. It was like therapy. We have written a lot in London between the tours, and it always feels like there is this big trolling type of judgment that comes because you have to get out of the studio, you have to go back on the tour, you need a single.
Keating: Yes, it felt like a much needed break from a train that we had been on for, years. I think we forgot that we should be artists and give that side of music some space. We have been such a touring band for, I mean, since we left school. And I think you need balance and we missed it for a little while.
This album definitely leans more pop than your latest discs. What inspired the change in the sound?
Hewson: We wanted to distill what we had done. We have used the term “Trigger-Happy” for our first two albums, which they definitely were just because you are new to the studio and you want to play with everything in there. This time, before we put anything down we would be like, “Do we need this?” And it was just a good lesson, because you can hear the songs clearer and everything feels much more intentional. And I think that when you make a pop album it is quite important.
Obviously, it was a big part of bringing Kid Harpoon as a producer. How did you get connected?
Keating: We knew we wanted a change because we had the same producer for the first two albums, and he became a dear friend and he is actually kind of our manager as well. So we mutually agreed that for this next album we wanted to go with someone else and have a new strategy. Then we made a little speed date with a few different producers and we had a conversation with Tom and we just clicked with him. He was just really fun and chilled. We loved the Harry album and we saw that he was doing another with Kings of Leon, so we knew he could probably put on a band. But it was more just that we continued with him, I think, who informed our decision. It felt like good chemistry.
How were your discussions with Kid Harpoon about the album’s sonic landscape?
Hewson: I think where he stands out is in rhythm. Well, he stands out in many places, but for us the big difference in rhythm and the album’s tracks was. He is like the best in the world on it and can only make it flow really well. He used a lot actually analogue things on the album. We used this Tascam thing for a while, which is like an old cassette player. But I think he just wanted to make it feel a little glam and the 70s, and we love all that.
You called “Open Wide” a pop album earlier. Would you consider inhaler as a pop band?
Hewson: We have always felt like a pop band because we love the Beatles and Nirvana’s “Nevermind” and all these albums. Just because something has guitars about it, I don’t think it excludes it from being pop. We do not write as a “espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter, you know, so it depends on what you mean by pop. We just love pop songs too, like a good choir is what we want. I don’t know – we sometimes think we look to be a mainstream band without any of the radio success.
Which artists did you see to inspire “open broadly”?
Hewson: Deartones. You will be “what?” When I say so, I know, because it doesn’t sound like that on the album. But we talked a lot about them and the “White Pony” album. Tom is a really big fan of the guitars and vocal sounds, and we learned some lessons from it. Prince too, I think I write the music. Certainly for a song as “a matter of you.” Who doesn’t love Prince, do you know what I mean?
Indie music started our band, but it would not be true that it would be the middle of the music that we love. We are in many different types of things, and I think we have never felt like an indie band either. But people love to throw you into categories.
What was the biggest difference for you to write this album compared to before?
Hewson: We followed our intention of many things. Since we were a little secluded when we wrote it, we did not have to have too many discussions about what happened and it was almost like a subconscious, telepathic thing where we would all come up with these songs. The mantra for the album was like, if your first instinct feels right, go with it. And it was to “open broadly” as a title because I feel it was just a very honest, unknown place that we were in. Honesty was really the main point and removing the rocks, if you can say it? Don’t quote me on it, I know you will. Fuck.
Ireland definitely has a moment right now with groups like Fontaines DC and Kneecap that receive global recognition. What does it mean to you?
Hewson: We are just so happy for the country. I think there is a certain emotional aspect of Irish music that is conducted through the culture and then bleeding on music. As 15 years ago, when we were at school, there were bands around but they didn’t get as much exposure as they are now. We always dreamed of such a scene happening in Dublin, and I don’t think we were ever part of it really. We played in the clubs, but we never really felt as if we were led it. And I have so much love for founders because the amount of labels that come over now and are looking for bands, it is so good for young artists. Especially in a country there – I think that our moral leadership in the world right now is really important, and I have a lot of respect for these bands to stand up for what they believe in and tear it on the sleeve. It is very admirable, and I am very proud of the Irish music scene right now.
Speaking of – Eli, you are part of Irish Rock Royalty. Did your dad give you any advice while you made this album?
Hewson: On this record, it was more just general life advice from him – fatherly advice that “make sure it doesn’t pass you”. It is much more valuable.
I think he very much knows that there would be some expectations that people would put on us and many people would think we got things. There are definitely huge benefits that come with having a famous parent because people come to the show, they want to see what happens, but I think the pressure actually made us really hard workers. It was just very important that we show people that this was not done on a whim, do you know? We have always wanted to be in a band since we were 13 years old. And at that age, maybe in a kind of naive way, we didn’t really think about it too much.
You have a big tour that comes, including another stint in the United States, what can fans expect?
Hewson: We increase production a bit. We have a little more money to play with now and we put it into the show. It is also just exciting to have three albums now to dive in, while we felt very stiff. I think we have finished every gig with “my honest face” that we have ever done since that song came out. So to be able to have more in Armory and be like, let’s play this song tonight or let’s not play that song tonight. It will only make things feel a little more up in the air, which keeps you on your toes on the tour. I think you need it.
